Folding rocking chair



March 20, 1962 T. s. KUNDTZ ETAL FOLDING ROCKING CHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 2'7 1959 March 20, 1962 T. s. KUNDTZ ETAL FOLDING ROCKING CHAIR United States Patent 3,026,143 FOLDING ROCKING CHAIR Theodore Simon Kundtz and Louvenia L. Kundtz, both of 528 SW. 28th Road, Miami, Fla. Filed Mar. 27, 1959, Ser. No. 802,407 2 Claims. (Cl. 297-258) This invention relates to an article of furniture, and more particularly to a folding rocking chair.

This invention is an improvement over the folding rocking chair shown and described in our prior Patent No. 2,620,859.

The object of the invention is to provide a folding rocking chair which includes an improved means of fastening the fabric to the frame, and wherein there is also provided stop members for limiting downward movement of the seat supporting members.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding rocking chair wherein the back rest and seat member which are made of a flexible material such as a suitable plastic or fabric-like material are fastened in place in a highly improved and efficient manner, and wherein the improved chair of the present invention is comfortable to sit on and use, and wherein when the chair is not needed it can be readily folded up so as to occupy a minimum amount of space for storage or shipment or movement about, and wherein the chair is easy to open and as soon as it is open it is ready for use, the chair being constructed so that it cannot accidentally collapse due to the provision of the stop members.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a folding roclc'ng chair which is comfortable and pleasant to use or sit on, and wherein there are no raw or sharp edges on the completed article.

These and other objects and advantages reside in certain novel features of construction, arrangement and termination of parts as will hereinafter be more fully described and pointed out in the appended claims.

While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention it is to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs or requirements, the design may be varied and such other changes in the minor de tails of construction may be resorted to within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the folding rocking chair of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a front elevational view of the chair;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2, but showing the chah: in partially folded or collapsed position;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view, with parts broken away and in section, showing the method of fastening the fabric in place;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating certain constructional details of the present invention;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary sectional view showing a pivot connection and taken on the line 9-9 of FIGURE FIGURE 10 is a sectional view taken on the line 10-10 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 11 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating one of the tie members;

Patented Mar. 20, 1962 FIGURE 12 is a sectional view taken on the line 12-12 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating a modification.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the folding rocking chair of the present invention comprises a pair of similar side frame members 10 which are mounted for movement towards and away from each other. Each of the side frame members 10 is of one piece construction and each comprises a first portion 11 which terminates in an angularly arranged second portion 12, and arranged angularly with respect to the second portion 12 is a third portion 13. Each side frame member 1% further includes a lower fourth portion 14 which is curved and which provides the rocker, and each member 10 further includes an upstanding fifth portion 15. Extending between the pair of fifth portions 15 and fastened thereto is a back rest 16 which can be made of a suitable material such as plastic, fabric or the like.

There is further provided a pair ofarms which are each indicated generally by the numeral 17, and each arm 17 includes an upstanding section 18 which is fastened to the portion 15 as at 19. Each arm 17 further includes a downwardly extending section 20 which is fastened to the member 10 as at 21, and the arm 17 further includes an intermediate section 22 which is fastened to the portion 12 as at 23.

There is further provided pairs of rods 24 which are arranged in crisscross relation, and the rods 24 have their lower ends pivotally connected to the portions 14 as at 25. A pair of bars 27 are secured to the upper ends of the rods 24, and the numeral 23 indicates a cloLh-like or plastic-like seat member which is fastened to the pair of bars 27.

Secured to the inner surface of each side frame member it is a brace 29, FIGURE 5, and a plurality of stop members or lugs 36 are secured to each brace 29. These stop members 30 are adapted to receive the bars 27 when the bars are in their lowermost positions so as to limit downward movement of the seat 28 as for example when a person is sitting thereon. The rods 24 are pivotally connected together as at 26.

Plugs 31 may be mounted in the ends of the various members so as to help insure that there will be no sharp or raw edges for a person to catch his or her clothing or parts of the body thereon.

As shown in FIGURE 7 for example, the bars 27 may be fastened to the rods 24 by means of securing elements such as screws or bolts 33 which extend through the bars 27 and engage a bushing 32 which is mounted within the corresponding rod 24.

Referring now to FIGURE 6 of the drawings, there is illustrated the manner of fastening the fabric 16 or 28 in place to its corresponding support member. Thus, the ends of the material 16 or 2? are provided with seams or sleeve portions 34 for receiving a pin or rod 35, and with the pin 35 seated in the seam 34, this portion of the material is adapted to be snugly seated in a groove 36 formed in the member 27 or 15. The pin 35 has a diameter which is sufiicient to prevent accidental disengagement of the material 34 from the groove 36. However, the pin 35 can be moved longitudinally or axially as for example when the material 16 is to be assembled or disassembled from the member 27 or 15.

There is further provided tie members for maintaining the bars 27 connected to the frame members 10, and the tie members comprise cables or lines 37 which have a knot 38 on one end thereof which is held or seated in a recess portion 39 of the bar 27, while the other end of the line 37 is fastened to the portion-12 of the frame member 10 by means of a securing element 40.

As shown in FIGURE 12 for example, the back rest 16 may have sleeve portions 41 on its ends which surround or engage the portions 15 of the frame members 19, and these sleeve portions 41 may be fastened to the portions '15 by securing elements 42.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that-there has been provided a folding rocking chair which is an improve- 7 ment over the folding chair shown and described in our prior Patent 2,620,859. According to the present invention, when the chair is not being used, the parts can be collapsed so that the members 16 can be moved towards each other. Similarly, when the chair is to he used, the members are spread apart so that a person can sit on the member 28 and due to the provision of the 'arcuate portions 14, a person can comfortably and conveniently rock back and forth. The back rest 16 is fastened to the upright portion of the frame members 19. The seat portion 28 is fastened to the bars 27, and the bars 27 are connected to the upper ends of the crisscross rods 24, the rods 24 having their lower ends pivotally connected 'as at 25 to the portion 14 of the frame members 10.

When a person is sitting on the chair, the bars 27 will rest in the arcuate portions of the stop members 30 so that there will be no possibility of the chair collapsing. The bars 27 are fastened to the rods 24 as shown in FIG- URES 7 and 8 by means of a securing element 33 which extends through the member 27 and engages a bushing 32 which is positioned in the corresponding rod 24. The tie members 37 are anchored between the bars' 27 and portions 12 so as to help maintain the parts in their proper assembled position. The seat 28 is provided with sleeve portions 34 on its ends whereby pins 35 can be seated in the portions 34 and then the pins 35 and portions 34 are firmly held and seated in grooves 36 formed in the member 27. The back rest 16 has portions 41 on its ends which are fastened to the portions 15 as at 42.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

Some of the advantages of the present invention over the prior Patent 2,620,859 are that the improved chair has a novel and eflicient method of fastening the fabric to the framework and there is also an improved stop arrangement for limiting movement of the parts. The chair is light in weight'and very easy to fold and carry and it is. also easy to open and when opened it is ready for use. The framework can be made of a suitable material such as anodized aluminum. The chair is comfortable to sit on and use and fihn material can be used wherever desired or required. The fastening means shown in FIGURE 6 eliminates the necessity of using n'vets or other securing elements for fastening the fabric or holding the fabric in place. Furthermore, there are no sharp protruding edges and the arrangement of the arms 17 helps reinforce the chair and provides a means for strengthening the sections which hold the back and also prevent the same from breaking due to the continuous strain on this part and wherein the appearance of the chair is improved and the chair is more rigid and ruggedly constructed;

Referring now to FIGURE 13 of the drawings, the numeral 9 indicates a portion of the framework which may have a protective covering 8 thereon. Without such a protective covering as the covering 8, the chair would have a tendency to skid or slide, especially on a highly polished floor and the covering 8 may be in the nature of a vinyl plastic tubing which may be on the bottom of the rocker. Such a protective covering or tubing 8 will prevent the chair from skidding 'or sliding and will add a great deal to the ruggedness and usefulness of the chair since such a vinyl material is quite tough. The vinyl tubing is adapted to be applied to the bottom on the rocking part of the chair and is also adapted to cover the entire outside frame so as to make it scratch proof in addition to providing the non-skidding and longer wearing qualities. The vinyl tubing may be provided in different colors and can be applied to the frame without anodizing the same. Thus, an important aspect of the present invention is the application of vinyl tubing on the bottom of the rocker and also to cover the entire outer frame.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

We claim:

1. In a folding rocking chair, a pair of side frame members mounted for movement towards and away from each other, each of said side frame members comprising a first portion, a second portion arranged augularly with respect to said first portion, a third portion arrange-d angularly with respect to said second portion, a curved fourth portion at the bottom of each side frame member, said fourth portion terminating in an upright fifth portion, a back rest extending between said fifth portions and connected thereto; and arm arranged contiguous to each of said side frame members, each of said arms comprising an upturned section fastened to said fifth portion, and a downturned sect-ion fastened to said third portion, each arm further including an intermediate section fastened to said' second portion, said intermediate section extending between said upturned and downturned sections, pairs of rods arranged in crisscross relation and the lower ends of said rods b'eing pivotally connected to said fourth portions, spaced parallel bars secured to the'upper ends of said rods, a seat member extending between said bars and fastened thereto, spaced parallel opposed braces secured to the inner surfaces of said side frame members, stop lugs secured to said braces for selectively receiving said bars, said seat member being made of flexible material which is provided with sleeves in its ends, a pin extending through said sleeves, there being grooves in said bars for receiving the pins and sleeves.

2. A folding rocking chair comprising a pair of side frame members mounted for movement towards and away from each other, a protective covering on the bottom portion of the side frame members, each of said side frame members embodying a first portion, a second portion positioned angularly with respect to said first portion, a third portion arranged angularly with respect to said second portion, a curved fourth portion at the bottom of each side frame member, said fourth portion terminating in an upright fifth portion, a back rest extending between said fifth portions and connected thereto; an arm arranged contiguous to each of said side frame members, each of said arms comprising an upturned section fastened to said fifth portion, a downturned section fastened to said third portion, each arm further embodying an intermediate section secured to said second portion, said intermediate'section extending between said upturned and downturned sections, pairs of rods arranged in crisscross relation and the lower ends of said rods being pivotally'connected' to said fourth portions, spaced parallel bars secured to the upper ends of said rods, tie members extending between said side frame members and said bars, said tie members comprising lines which have a knot on one end thereof which is held or seated in a recessed portion of a bar while theother end of the lines are fastened to a portion of the frame member by means of a securing element, a seat member extending between said bars and fastened thereto, spaced parallel opposed braces secured to the inner surfaces of said side frame members, a plurality of stop lugs secured to said braces for selectively receiving said bars when the bars are in their lowermost position so as to limit downward movement of the seat member as for example when a person is sitting thereon, said seat member being made of flexible material which is provided with sleeves in its ends, a pin extending through said sleeves, there being grooves in said bars for snugly receiving the pins and sleeves, said pins having a diameter which is sufficient to prevent accidental disengagement of the material from the grooves, said pins being capable of 6 being moved longitudinally when the material is to be as- 2,228,382 Bargen Ian. 14, 1941 sembled or disassembled. 2,581,793 Hill Jan. 8, 1952 2,620,859 Kundtz et a1. Dec. 9, 1952 References Cited in the file of this patent 2,859,800 Jennings Nov. 11, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGN PATENTS Des.77,413 Jones Ian. 8, 1929 1,110,516 France Oct. 12, 1955 1,739,552 Kidder Dec. 17, 1929 754,209 Great Britain Aug. 1, 1956 

